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Nigerian track and field star Tobi Amusan soared to the 100m hurdles Heat 2 victory in 12.49s at the Holloway Pro Classic, the final Puma American Track League installment. Several track fans hailed Amusan's comfortable victory as she prepared to take flight for the marquee Games in Paris.
Amusan clocked 12.52s in the 100m hurdles at the BAUHAUS-Galan Diamond League, Stockholm. Her impressive feat made her the first Nigerian athlete to surpass the Olympic standard and secure the most coveted 100m Paris Olympic qualification in the 100m hurdles.
At the 2024 Jamaica Athletics Invitational, Amusan ran a world-leading time of 12.40s to secure the win, leaving Jamaica's reigning champion, Daniel Williams, in second and her US counterpart, Christina Clemens, in third. After the feat, the world record holder in the 100m hurdles pitched up for her forte event at the Holloway Pro Classic.
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She clocked 19.49s to win Heat 1 of the hurdles race, leaving behind US champion Masai Russell to second in 12.51s. The stellar time of Amusan's race convinced fans of her Olympic worth ahead of the Games.
One fan put their finger on Amusan as a heavy Olympic gold favorite in the 100m hurdles.
"Repping Amusan for Olympics gold - hurdle."
Another fan acknowledged the contentious line-up but preferred Tobi Amusan over others.
"Female hurdle is so stacked,but I'm team Amusan."
Since Amusan would vie for her first Olympic gold, a fan believed she would achieve it in Paris.
"Incoming Olympic gold medalist."
Here are some of the other reactions:
"Serious closing speed," commented a fan.
"That track is mad pretty," tweeted a fan.
"Both of their closing speeds are top tier," a fan tweeted.
In the 100m hurdles final at the Holloway Pro Classic, US hurdler, Grace Stark finished on top with 12.58s and Tobi Amusan clinched the second position with 12.60s.
Tobi Amusan on how she deals with difficult times
Amusan shared that she went into depression after her Tokyo Olympic stint. Since she etched her name as one of the top hurdlers in Africa, someone belittled her for being an average performer on the world stage.
"I remember someone saying that I'm a giant in Africa, but a wounded lion on the world stage," she said to Olympics.com.
However, the following year, she rose back up with a stellar run and a world record in the 110 hurdles at the 2022 World Championships. When asked about how she shut off criticisms and propelled her journey, she shared that deleting social media can be a way.
"The doubters. A lot of people said I am too short for hurdles, because my lower body is shorter. A lot of athletes say, ‘I am so tough I don’t let those things get to us, trust me it does get to us!’ If you have to delete social media so that you don’t see how these haters belittle you with their words, do it!” Tobi Amusan added.
Women's 100m hurdles Round 1 will kick off on August 7, 2024, when Amusan will face the top athletes of the world.
